Vegas Ready For 2012 Wsop Final

10/29/2012 :  POKER ORGANISERS READY TO RUMBLE IN LAS VEGAS
 
The grand finale of the World Series of Poker main event starts this week
 
World Series of Poker staff will be busy at the Rio in Las Vegas this weekend making final preparations for the climax of this year's edition of the 43rd 2012 World Series of Poker – the final table of the main event.
 
It's been three months since the nine survivors of the 6,598 players from 83 nations who entered the $10,000 buy-in event bagged their chips for the long break before the final table competition, which starts Monday October 29 at 4:30 pm Vegas time.
 
Each survivor is guaranteed a minimum pay-out of over $750,000, with the final table sharing $27,258,025, the lion's portion of the event's massive overall prize pool, which this year reached $62,031,385.
 
The winner will take home $8,531,853, along with a $150,000 gold winner's bracelet respected by poker fans everywhere.
 
The average age of all entrants in this event was 37, but seven of the nine remaining players are age 32 or younger. Here are their chip counts at the start of the action this week.
 
Jesse Sylvia (26) from Martha's Vineyard, USA – 43,875,000
 
Andras Koroknai (30) of Hungary – 29,375,000
 
Greg Merson (24) hails from Maryland, USA – 28,725,000
 
Russell Thomas (24) Connecticut, USA – 24,800,000
 
Steven Gee (57) California USA – 16,860,000

 
Michael Esposito (44) New York USA – 16,260,000

 
Robert Salaburu (27) Texas USA – 15,155,000

 
Jacob Balsiger (21) Arizona USA – 13,115,000

 
Jeremy Ausmus (32) Nevada USA – 9,805,000
 
Average age: 31.6
 
The potential rewards for these nine players are enormous:
 
* 1st receives $8,531,853 and that $150,000 bracelet
* 2nd — $5,295,149
* 3rd —  $3,799,073
* 4th —  $2,851,537
* 5th —  $2,155,313
* 6th —  $1,640,902
* 7th —  $1,258,040
* 8th —  $971,360
* 9th — $754,798